Ron Roenicke isn't worried about Mat Gamel yet

Phoenix - Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said Sunday that he isn't worried that first baseman Mat Gamel's surgically repaired right knee was aggravated in the first full-squad workout the previous day.

"He aggravated the knee some so he won't be out on the field today," said Roenicke. "Hopefully, tomorrow he'll be back out there. It won't be full go. We'll just get him back out there and acclimate him to the different things running around.

"It's unexpected just because he's gone through this period of time where he really hasn't had any issues with it. It is different. Once you get on the field and now you're doing different exercises with agilities, with fundamentals, you're doing different things on the knee that you aren't doing in a controlled environment."

Roenicke said Gamel tweaked the knee while stretching for throws at first base, then again swinging a bat.

Asked if he considered it a red flag, Roenicke said, "No, not now. If it happens a few times as we're going along, yeah."

Should Gamel have to be shut down for any period, it would make the first-base situation interesting. Gamel is slated to fill in for Corey Hart while Hart recovers from knee surgery. So, who would fill in for Gamel if he's out for awhile?

Roenicke said he'd look at Taylor Green, Alex Gonzalez and Bobby Crosby at first base if necessary.

"We've talked about what could happen," said Roenicke. "We have an idea. There are some options."

Roenicke also mentioned Hunter Morris, the 2012 Southern League player of the year at Class AA Huntsville. Morris is slated to play at Class AAA Nashville but Roenicke noted that shortstop Jean Segura made the jump from Huntsville late last year

"It would be pushing him but say he comes out in spring training and just goes off," said Roenicke. "I don't know. He had some kind of year in Double-A. That's where Segura came from, so I wouldn't say he's out of the question either, if Mat couldn't do it."

Roenicke said first baseman Sean Halton would come over from the minor-league camp to fill in for Gamel during drills at first base until he's ready to fully participate again.

About Tom Haudricourt

Tom Haudricourt covers the Brewers and Major League Baseball. He was voted Wisconsin Sports Writer of Year for 2011 and 2012 by National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.